Dante’s Inferno depicted nine circles of hell, each representing progressive levels of sin and punishment. If Dante lived today, he likely would have labeled New Jersey and its progressive legislature as the 10th circle.
On January 16, Assemblywoman Carol Murphy (D – District 7, Burlington) introduced a bill that would require household members of firearm purchasers to receive background checks. The text of the bill was revealed on January 28, and it is loathsome, unconstitutional, and represents the length to which the left will go to infringe upon your rights.
Bill A5210 amends N.J.S.2C:58-3, and states:
A handgun purchase permit or firearms purchaser identification card shall not be issued: (16) To any person who resides with a household member as defined in paragraph (2) of subsection n. of this section who is subject to the disabilities established pursuant to this subsection.
Household members include immediate family, spouses, domestic partners and any person over the age of 18 who cohabitates with an applicant.
In essence, if you happen to live with someone who couldn’t pass a background check or had a disqualifying factor, then the state will disarm you. Plain and simple.
The bill specifies that having a criminal history record or a history of mental health or substance abuse related issues are also disqualifiers.
A currently law abiding citizen who has turned their life around and been rehabilitated, yet has a criminal record, could be the reason the state disarms another person.
While a bill like this is unlikely to move forward to an actual vote that passes in the bicameral legislature, its intended point is to psychologically punish citizens in a state that has the strictest gun control laws in the country.
News2A sought insights from New Jersey State Assemblyman Brian Bergen, a staunch advocate for Second Amendment rights within the legislature, regarding the controversial new bill. Here’s what he had to say about the proposal from Assemblywoman Murphy:
Assemblywoman Murphy is clueless. This bill is not only crazy, but definitely unconstitutional.
However, we cannot and must not assume that it wouldn’t get passed. The state has already shown its flagrant disregard for civil liberties and you can rest assured that Governor Murphy is salivating through his crooked teeth at the thought of signing another piece of legislation that disarms the law-abiding. It’s far easier to stop these in committee than to challenge the law in court. We encourage you to call your elected representatives to voice your displeasure.
